disorder

1 of 2

verb

dis·​or·​der (ˌ)dis-ˈȯr-dər 

(ˌ)diz-

disordered; disordering; disorders

transitive verb

1

: to disturb the order of

2

: to disturb the regular or normal functions of

disorder

2 of 2

noun

1

: lack of order

clothes in disorder

2

: breach of the peace or public order

troubled times marked by social disorders

3

: an abnormal physical or mental condition

a liver disorder

a personality disorder

Synonyms

Verb

• confuse
• derange
• disarrange
• disarray
• discompose
• dishevel
• disjoint
• dislocate
• disorganize
• disrupt
• disturb
• hash
• jumble
• mess (up)
• mix (up)
• muddle
• muss
• rumple
• scramble
• shuffle
• tousle
• tumble
• upset

Noun

• chance-medley
• chaos
• confusion
• disarrangement
• disarray
• dishevelment
• disorderedness
• disorderliness
• disorganization
• free-for-all
• havoc
• heck
• hell
• jumble
• mare's nest
• mess
• messiness
• misorder
• muddle
• muss
• shambles
• snake pit
• tumble
• welter

Examples of disorder in a Sentence

Verb

be careful not to disorder the carefully arranged contents of the dresser

Noun

The mayor is concerned that a rally could create public disorder.

problems of crime and social disorder

Millions of people suffer from some form of personality disorder.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Ultimately, Ambrose wants viewers to come away from the film with a better understanding of kids with DSD, knowing that there’s nothing disordered or wrong about them. —Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2025

Next, the researchers looked at the relationship between the frequency of use of these apps and disordered eating, body image, and compulsive exercise. —New Atlas, 24 Feb. 2025

Noun

With over 20 million people in the United States alone dealing with a substance abuse disorder, the demand for genuine, long-term, effective solutions couldn’t be stronger. —Kara Markley Sterling, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025

The agency finally approved the company’s marketing of tests to determine genetic dispositions to 10 health conditions, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and certain blood clotting disorders, in 2017. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1523, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing disorder

• affective disorder
• alcohol use disorder
• antisocial personality disorder
• anxiety disorder
• Asperger's disorder
• attention deficit disorder
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• autism spectrum disorder
• autistic disorder
• autistic spectrum disorder
• binge eating disorder
• bipolar disorder
• borderline personality disorder
• colony collapse disorder
• conversion disorder
• developmental disorder
• dissociative identity disorder
• eating disorder
• factitious disorder
• factitious disorder imposed on another
• factitious disorder imposed on self
• gender identity disorder
• generalized anxiety disorder
• hoarding disorder
• illness anxiety disorder
• major depressive disorder
• mental disorder
• mood disorder
• multiple personality disorder
• narcissistic personality disorder
• obsessive-compulsive disorder
• oppositional defiant disorder
• panic disorder
• personality disorder
• pervasive developmental disorder
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• premenstrual dysphoric disorder
• psychopathic personality disorder
• schizoid personality disorder
• schizotypal personality disorder
• seasonal affective disorder
• sleep disorder
• somatic symptom disorder
• throw into disorder
• unipolar disorder

Rhymes for disorder

• camcorder
• recorder
• reorder
• suborder
• transborder
• boarder
• border
• corder
• order
• warder

Kids Definition

disorder

1 of 2 verb

dis·​or·​der (ˈ)dis-ˈȯrd-ər 

1

: to disturb the order of

2

: to disturb the regular or normal functions of

disorder

2 of 2 noun

1

: lack of order : a state or condition without order

clothes in disorder

2

: an abnormal physical or mental condition : ailment

Medical Definition

disorder

1 of 2 transitive verb

dis·​or·​der (ˈ)dis-ˈȯrd-ər, (ˈ)diz- 

disordered; disordering -ˈȯrd-(ə-)riŋ 

: to disturb the regular or normal functions of

disorder

2 of 2 noun

: an abnormal physical or mental condition : ailment

an intestinal disorder

a nervous disorder